LIVE REVIEW
MIKA
Jacaranda Baltic - Liverpool

Artist: Mika
Venue: Jacaranda Baltic - Liverpool
Date: 28th of January 2026
Photos and Review:  LJ Hubbard

Liverpool’s Look into Mika’s Recording Process in his
Stripped Back Set

Mika played his first ever show in Liverpool on Wednesday evening at the Jacaranda Baltic, letting the audience into his writing and recording process by stripping back few tracks from his latest album, ‘Hyperlove’.

Despite his main fanbase being across the water in France and Italy, Mika packed out the venue in seconds over in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle with dedicated fans ready to get a real insight into the world of his latest record.

The crowd eagerly waited for the singer-songwriter to take to the stage, admiring the set being an imitation of Mika’s recording studio, consisting of a comfy seat, his piano, a China tea set and a few lamps dotted about for ambience. This made for a wonderfully immersive experience, giving the crowd a real studio-like experience.

Shortly after 6:30pm, Mika made his way to the stage, took a seat and got down to business by running us through the inspirations and creative process behind his album. We got insight into a handful of his songs, with one particularly standing out to me: ‘Spinning Out’. This is where the China tea set came into play – Mika poured himself a cuppa and sat back as he gently tapped the spoon in 4/4 time against the cup’s brim. Pairing this rhythm with the anecdote of his choosing of tea over beers in the studio, which gave him and his musicians clarity, allowing the music to flow when recording.

After a few more taps, the classic Britney piano riff from ‘...Baby One More Time’ filled the room alongside the vocals and beat of his track, bringing together the tune that started with something as simple as a spoon tapping a teacup. These subtle references to the things that mean so much Mika make for truly heartfelt, layered tracks that clearly hold a lot of significance to the artist and fans alike – especially those attending his Stripped Back shows.

It’s fair to say Mika is not afraid to be open with his audience, admitting that he still needed a little time to get used to the lyrics to ‘Immortal Love’, a song about his  Golden Retriever who’s been through thick and thin with him for 16 years. An eager fan, Hannah, was invited onstage to hold up some cues for the chorus, encouraging the fans to sing along. Mika coolly leaned against a pillar, casually glancing down at his phone for a quick reminder of his lyrics as Hannah excitedly held up the cue cards, in awe that they were sharing the stage with their favourite artist.

The most memorable moment of the night came as Hannah thanked Mika for his music, particularly ‘Any Other World’ which got them through some tough times. As a result, Mika surprised them with a last-minute rendition of their favourite song, putting all his love into the performance as Hannah watched from beside the piano.

This was such a magnificent moment that I’m sure will stick with Hannah for a very long time – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

After a very brief Q&A, the much-anticipated encore was underway. The final song was introduced with a true story of a Californian woman who opened a plus-size accepting nightclub, The Butterfly Lounge, after she found herself heavily judged, looked down upon and disrespected due to her size. The crowd blew the roof off with their reaction as ‘Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)’ began, a remarkable way to finish an already memorable show, leaving the crowd having experienced one of his most iconic tracks in such a raw, intimate way – something that not many
people will get to experience.

Mika’s stripped back, mini ‘tour’ is a great way for him to segue into his arena shows that start in France next week, preparing him for performing his latest work on a world tour whilst giving us a little taster of what’s to come.